Recent Posts

While the idea of implementing mind reading technology in an
automotive application is nothing new, in fact, it’s something
Ferrari has previously been reported as
dabbling in, this is the first time that we’ve seen an automaker
actually confirm an interest in the field.

Nissan is undertaking this
pioneering work in collaboration with the École Polytechnique
Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland (EPFL).

Research on what’s being called the “Brain Machine Interface”
(BMI) already allows disabled users to maneuver
their wheelchairs by thought transference alone. The next stage
is to adapt the BMI processes to the car—and driver—of the
future.

Using brain activity measurement, eye movement patterns and by
scanning the environment around the car in conjunction with the
car's own sensors, it should be possible to predict what the
driver plans to do—be it a turn, an overtake, a lane change—and
then assist with the maneuver in complete safety.

The Nissan and EPFL collaboration is developing systems that go
to the next stage using statistical analysis to predict a diver's
intentions and to evaluate a driver's cognitive state relevant to
the driving environment.

If all goes to plan, one day, our cars will be able to predict
our next move. For example, imagine you see a left turn coming up
and you want to take it. The car could then prepare itself for
the maneuver, selecting the correct speed and road positioning,
before completing the turn.

If this turns out to be too extreme, we could at least envisage a
driver adjusting a radio station or volume of the stereo,
accessing a paired smartphone or even locking the car or starting
its engine all with the power of their mind.

Of course, the technology is in its very early stages so any
production version would still be years away from launch.